US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - Throw us a bone on Standby Fees

Crystal City has been very quiet regarding passengers while they have been dealing with the unions. It seems that positive news regarding elimination of the Standby Fees would go a long way to improve relations with us and bring the company in line with OAs. Unless some obtuse thinker believes that we would actually prefer to buy tickets on US Airways since they are the only ones to charge this fee.

It's the revenue, guys. If you wonder why weekly passenger levels have fallen from over 1,000,000 to under 700,000 some weeks, just ask your customers. We'd love to help.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by AtlanticBeach:
Crystal City has been very quiet regarding passengers while they have been dealing with the unions. It seems that positive news regarding elimination of the Standby Fees would go a long way to improve relations with us and bring the company in line with OAs. Unless some obtuse thinker believes that we would actually prefer to buy tickets on US Airways since they are the only ones to charge this fee.

It's the revenue, guys. If you wonder why weekly passenger levels have fallen from over 1,000,000 to under 700,000 some weeks, just ask your customers. We'd love to help.</font>

Some twit in CCY is probably convinced that it's ok because the 700,000 remaining pax are paying full fare and buying standby coupons -- which more than makes up for the 300,000 lost customers...

I don't know what the actual numbers are, but I was in PHL and PIT this week during what were peak times.........the terminals were virtually empty.

Maybe it's the lull before Christmas, but where is everybody??

Interesting.... Was at DCA yesterday and PIT-- first time I can ever recall NO ONE in the ticket line at DCA ticket counter (at 9:15AM) -- and I mean NO ONE. PIT was at &lt;50% of its usual frenzy during a conex turn.... My flights yesterday were barely 1/2 full.

After this year's roller coaster ride re tier miles, DM program, Ch 11, IMA negotiations, Bronner in Alabama, flight reductions I think it's time to finally look for another carrier of choice. Too much drama and stress on the US front. And please, no remarks about loyalty -- 10 years of this wackiness is enough.

For those of you who are interested, I had the good fortune of trying Jetblue while on the left coast. A wonderful flying experience - sure no first class - but the lack of wide seats was made up for by everything else - Am going to use them on E-W runs and rely on others for the short hauls (ugh). Only way to explain it is to suggest you give em a try. You'll see.

US AIRWAYS ENHANCES NONREFUNDABLE STANDBY FARE POLICYARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 18, 2002. – US Airways announced today that it has enhanced its standby policy for customers traveling on nonrefundable fares. Effective immediately, customers holding confirmed reservations and tickets may obtain a confirmed seat on alternate flights earlier or later on the same day of travel, per the rules of the fare purchased, for a nonrefundable $100 fee.
Customers can now confirm seat assignments on flights with the same origin and destination as flights in their original itineraries. New itineraries cannot be confirmed more than four hours prior to departure of the new flight, and confirmation must be completed at the airport. In the event the desired alternate flight is sold out and no confirmed seat is available, customers will still be able to stand-by for last minute seats, per the fare rule, subject to the nonrefundable $100 fee.
Reporters needing additional information should contact US Airways Corporate Communications at (703) 872-5100.

------------------
Frequent travel to: ABE, BDL, EYW, GNV, MDT, OKC, PDX, and RDU.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by CALeeIII:
US AIRWAYS ENHANCES NONREFUNDABLE STANDBY FARE POLICYARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 18, 2002. – US Airways announced today that it has enhanced its standby policy for customers traveling on nonrefundable fares. Effective immediately, customers holding confirmed reservations and tickets may obtain a confirmed seat on alternate flights earlier or later on the same day of travel, per the rules of the fare purchased, for a nonrefundable $100 fee.
Customers can now confirm seat assignments on flights with the same origin and destination as flights in their original itineraries. New itineraries cannot be confirmed more than four hours prior to departure of the new flight, and confirmation must be completed at the airport. In the event the desired alternate flight is sold out and no confirmed seat is available, customers will still be able to stand-by for last minute seats, per the fare rule, subject to the nonrefundable $100 fee.
Reporters needing additional information should contact US Airways Corporate Communications at (703) 872-5100.

</font>

I thought at first this was a joke - poking fun at US for bonehead moves in light of other carriers going the opposite way.

Then I found it on their web site.....

I promised myself that I would never get into name-calling or profanity while posting. However, this may make me break that promise.

Are these guys nuts or just incompetent? (all of the above is an acceptable answer)

*scratches head*

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE??

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by CPRich:
I thought at first this was a joke - poking fun at US for bonehead moves in light of other carriers going the opposite way.

Then I found it on their web site.....</font>

Yeah, I thought it was pretty unbelievable myself. Sorry, I should have provided a link. Doesn't seem these guys are much differnt than the great thinkers at Delta.


------------------
Frequent travel to: ABE, BDL, EYW, GNV, MDT, OKC, PDX, and RDU.

Uh-oh.

I just noticed the dreaded word "enhancement". Looks like Dave's buddies from CO have infiltrated the company. Be on the lookout for Gordo roaming the hallways.

Edited for typo

[This message has been edited by AtlanticBeach (edited 12-18-2002).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by AtlanticBeach:
I promised myself that I would never get into name-calling or profanity while posting. However, this may make me break that promise.

Are these guys nuts or just incompetent? (all of the above is an acceptable answer)</font>

Do you think these guys have just given up? Some have talked about the organized shut-down. Seems like they have this "screw 'em to the very end" attitude.

Just when you think that they couldn't possibly come up with a more bizzare and incomprehensible rule...

What I think the new rule is saying, is that instead of having to wait until the last few minutes before departure to see if your standby clears, you can get a confirmed seat 4 hours ahead of time and not have to worry.

Sound right?

OMG...What business school did these yahoos go to? Please tell me so I can be sure my son avoids it like the plague.

Next time they lose my baggage I'm afraid there gonna charge me an extra delivery charge. Well sir...It since it did not arrive on the original flight we will have to charge you and additional $100.00 to get you your bag.

rawbert

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by TomBascom:
Just when you think that they couldn't possibly come up with a more bizzare and incomprehensible rule...</font>



[This message has been edited by rawbert (edited 12-18-2002).]

Goodness gracious, can these guys do anything right?

Do they honestly think that a "confirmed" seat when I standby is a big enough carrot for me to pay $100?

But more importantly, why would I buy tickets on US when I can book UA, get Dividend Miles, and not have to pay $100 for the privilege of standing by, if I need to?

come on, paying the $100 confirmable standby fee sure beats paying what would otherwise be a $100 change fee.

The only thing I can seriously wonder is 'have they quietly decided to drop the $100 standby fee and just have the previously existing change fee?' this would just tell people what they get for the $100 'just give it to us one way or the other on every flight' fee.

Would explain it at least.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by CALeeIII:
US AIRWAYS ENHANCES NONREFUNDABLE STANDBY FARE POLICY ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 18, 2002. – US Airways announced today that it has enhanced its standby policy for cockroaches traveling on nonrefundable fares and trying to slither into FC. Effective immediately, customers holding confirmed reservations and tickets may obtain a confirmed seat on alternate flights earlier or later on the same day of travel, but not earlier than later nor later than the earliest later flight on the previous day of flight less the latest earlier date for the following day, per the rules of the fare purchased but not excluding any rules that we may make up or just implement to further drive away lackluster performing revenue sucking cockroaches, for a nonrefundable $100 fee.

Cockroaches can now confirm seat assignments on flights with flight numbers that are odd on even days or even on odd days, unless it is a weekday beginning with an odd number day then all bets are off. Travel may not begin with the same origin and destination as flights in their original itineraries unless we sell them a ticket at the current fare to the new departure city unless this would create a nested ticket then we will void all miles and revoke Cockroach Preferred status.

Any travel may not include any cities to which the cockroach may wish to travel. New itineraries cannot be confirmed more than four minutes prior to departure of the new flight, however, since the door will be closed by then, the cockroach will also be charged a $100 rebooking fee to get them out of our hair on the next open flight, and confirmation must be completed at the airport but only after a strip search and cavity probe by a friendly but suspiciously over-eager TSA agent.

In the event the desired alternate flight is sold out or we just don't like your looks, and no confirmed seat is available, cockroaches will still be able to stand-by for last minute seats, per the fare rule and the mood of the Gate Agent, subject to the nonrefundable $100 fee and a cockroach decontamination surcharge of $100.

Should said cockroach want to stand-by for and upgrade using either E-upgrades, Cockroach Preferred upgrades or miles, cockroach may need to submit to further looks of withering condemnation by the Gate staff who must now click furiously while calculating the latest salary devaluation.

Cockroaches needing additional information should contact US Airways Cockroach Communications at (703) 872-5100.

</font>

Wow, a reread of this is really eyeopening...

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by mwp2paris:
Wow, a reread of this is really eyeopening...</font>

HA! There's always a comedian in the crowd!

Actually this version makes more sense than the real thing!!

Those rules read nearly identical to Delta's ... Delta of course is the only other airline who hasn't (yet) backed off charging for standby.